One of the tasks we were given at the workshop was to come up with two “fortune cookie” writing prompts but with a few twists. Once everyone had come up with them, we all drew two from the “hat”. If we got our own, we put it/them back and drew again.
Then the fun began. You picked which one you wanted to write on and began to write furiously (no crossing out or erasing or going back) for about 10 minutes then slowed down to a somewhat normal pace where some minor editing could be done. Over the lunch break we were to expand on our earlier writings.
The fortune I got was Your Bad Habits Will Soon Be Exposed! We were allowed to vary them a bit, so I went with something from the past coming back to haunt my protagonist.
I think I’m sitting at about two and a half pages written in long-hand and on every line. Now to get it typed into the computer and saved.
I’m thinking if this goes according to plan it could be an entry for next year’s Scene of the Crime contest. We’ll see.
Since I was unable to attend my local writers’ group April and May meetings due to attending Brian Henry workshops, I made the extra effort to write something to contribute in my absence. Not ready to share them online – yet – because I might use them for entries in the Writers’ Union of Canada postcard contest (flash fiction up to a maximum of 250 words) next year.
I’ve got one entered in this year’s contest, too, that was originally written for one of our monthly prompts.
The prompt for April was It Was the Day She Dreaded – The Day of the Appointment. This one garnered quite the response, especially from the male members of our group when it was read aloud. Oh to have been there in person or a fly on the wall.
The May prompt was He had missed the perfect opportunity to say nothing.
Our prompt for June is War and Peace. Yowzers! I’m sure I’ll come up with something before the 27th but, if not, I’ll be there for the meeting so maybe I’ll be a rebel and not contribute!
Some time ago, I made a couple of my posts regarding Sarah’s Gift private rather than prejudice my chances of getting her published. Well, I think I’ve varied from my original story enough that I can safely “un-privatize” the posts of the synopses… the full and the brief.
The trip to Sudbury was a blast! Great time spent with family and I got in some quality shopping, including a suede jacket from Danier Leather. Woo Hoo!!!
The writing workshop was entertaining but mostly informative without being overloaded/overwhelmed. The same workshop is being offered in Kingston in October – much closer to home – so I might go again. I mean, you can’t absorb everything in one go around.
Now I just have to apply everything I learned this past Sunday to my revisions/rewrites of Sarah’s Gift.
Cross your fingers for me.
My Scottish roots and writing by Melanie Robertson-King
